Valve interlock mechanism



y 1955 A. CALABRESE 2,709,452

VALVE INTERLOCK MECHANISM Filed April 2 1951 Un t dsmws ten VALVE INTERLOCK MECHANISM Antonio Calabrese, Seattle, wash assignor to J. Dan Fiorito Application April 2, 1951, Serial No. 218,843

2 Claims. (Cl. 137637.1)

This invention relates to valve control mechanisms, and it has reference more particularly to valve mechanisms to be used in connection with the controls for gate latching devices as employed in dump trucks that are equipped with batch gates, or for similar applications.

For a better understanding of the present invention, it will be here stated that some dump trucks, for example, trucks used to haul gravel and cement for street paving operations, have bodies equipped with two batch gates in addition to the usual tail gate. These batch gates are located at spaced intervals along the body, and divide it into separate compartments, each designed to contain a certain amount or kind of material. When the dump body is raised to a dumping position, the separate batches of material may be held by the gates for release as needed, under control of an operator.

It has been the principal object of this invention to provide a practical, inexpensive air powered latch releasing means that is easily and readily operable from the drivers position in the dump truck; this releasing means comprising a dual valve mechanism and an interlock for the valve control levers that insures the releasing of gates in a proper sequence that will avoid the accidental releasing of a gate and the dumping of one batch into or with another when such is not desired.

Further objects of the present invention reside in the details of construction of parts embodied in or used in connection with the valve lever interlock means as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is an enlarged plan view of the two control valves and the interlock associated with the valve levers, both of which are shown in 01f position and one locked against release.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the left hand valve lever moved to on position and thus releasing the interlock.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the valves, with the interlock lever in cross-section.

Referring more in detail to the drawings To explain the present valve interlock and its mode of use, it will here be stated, as way of example, that in a dump truck having two batch gates hingedly suspended therein, latches are provided for holding them in closed position when the body is tilted to dumping position. These latches are released respectively, by pneumatic means in the form of booster cylinders. With the idea in mind of providing an individual control valve for each gate and also to insure the proper sequence in actuating the latches to released and holding positions, I have provided the system as designed to include an interlock lever for the valve control levers which will presently be described.

In the present showing the valves 65 and 66 are alike, each being a two way valve. These valves are arranged side by side, and they have control levers 65x and 66):, re-

2,709,452 Patented May 31, 1955 ice spectively arranged to swing in the same direction through arcs of about 60 degrees in moving between off and on positions.

Each control valve 6566 has a rotatable valve element or plug to which the valve control lever is attached. When the levers are in OK position, as seen in full lines in Fig. 1, the valves are open to atmosphere, each through a relief port in the valve plug. When the levers are swung to on position, as in dotted lines in Fig. l, the plug passages provide direct connections between air supply lines thereto and lines leading therefrom.

In the operation of batch gates as used in the present way, it is necessary that they be released in proper sequence; that is, the lower gate must be opened first. To insure such sequence of operation, I have provided an interlock between the valve levers 65x and 66x as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2.

This interlock comprises a cross-bar that extends across the valve levers. The bar 75 is pivotally fixed, at a point between the valve levers by a pivot bolt 77 to a supporting bracket 78.

Formed on the valve levers 65x and 66x respectively, are upstanding lugs 79 and 80, and formed in the inner edge portion of the cross-bar 75, at near its opposite ends, and in such location as to receive the lugs 79 and 80 of the corresponding valve levers therein when the levers are in certain positions, are recesses 81 and 82.

It is shown in Fig. 1 that when both valve levers extend in the same direction and are both in oif position, the lug 80 of the valve lever 66x will be seated in the bar recess 82, while the lug 79 of valve lever 65x will be engaged against the bar edge beyond the recess 81. The recess 81, however, is so related to lug 79 that the valve lever 65x can be swung from oil? to on position. In this movement of the lever, the lug 79 thereon will swing into the recess 81. It is likewise the case that with both valve levers in off position, the valve lever 66x cannot be swung to on position since the lug 80 thereon is seated in recess 82 and cross bar 75 cannot be moved as would be required to unseat the lug so long as the lug 79 of lever 65x is engaged with outer end of the cross bar 75. Therefore, valve lever 66x must remain in off position until after the lever 65x of valve 65 has been moved 7 to on position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a batch gate control system wherein two latches are individually controlled by their respective air cylinders connected with a source of air under pressure through individual valves; said valves being fixed in spaced, axially parallel relationship, with individual control levers extending therefrom in the same direction and swingingly movable in the same direction between on and olf" positions; an interlock bar pivotally mounted between the valves with opposite end portions extended across the said control levers; said bar being mounted for rocking action and being formed with recesses in an edge thereof at opposite sides of the pivot point and within the arcs of movement of the valve levers, lugs on the valve levers adapted to engage with corresponding end portions of the interlock bar to rock the bar on its pivot with the swinging of a valve lever from one setting to another; the lug on one lever being adapted to be seated in the corresponding bar recess to hold the lever in fixed position upon the unseating of the other lug from its corresponding bar recess.

2. In a batch gate control system wherein two latches are individually controlled by their respective air cylinders connected with a source of air under pressure through individual valves; said valves being fixed in spaced, axially parallel relationship, with individual control levers extending therefrom in the same direction on and off positions; an interlock b'ar pivotally mounted between the valves with opposite end portions extended across the said control levers; said bar being mounted for rocking action and being formed with recesses in an edge thereof at opposite sides of the pivot point and within the arcs of movement of the valve levers, lugs on the valve levers adapted to engage with corresponding end portions of the interlock bar to rock it on' its pivot with the swinging of either valve lever from one setting 'to another; the lug on one lever being adapted to be seated in the corresponding bar recess to hold the lever in fixed position upon the unseating of the other lug from its corresponding recess; and the said lug on the lever which controls one valve being adapted to engage the lever outside the corresponding recess when in off position thus to lock the bar against pivotal movement and thereby prevent moving of the lever for the other valve from off to on position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,376,146 Kahn et al. Apr. 26, 1921 2,150,624 Johnson Mar. 14, 1939 2,220,202 Bohne Nov. 5, 1940 2,431,588 Sharpe Nov. 25, 1947 2,454,101 Snead Nov. 16, 1948 2,463,737 Berck Mar. 8, 1949 2,552,442 MeClish May 8, 1951 

